The National Football League kicks off its first-ever game in South America on Friday night, as the league pushes to grow its footprint overseas.
As the NFL enters the Southern Hemisphere, professional football has never been stronger financially. Last season, the league pulled in $13 billion in revenue, and the average team is worth about $6.5 billion, according to CNBC’s Official NFL Team Valuations.
But as the league tries to sustain its growth, international markets are a priority.
Ahead of the league’s inaugural game in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that the league aims to become an international sports property. This season, the NFL will play five games abroad in Europe and South America. By next season, the league will play eight games overseas.
“The reality is, when we bring our brand of our regular season games here, it creates a whole new environment,” Goodell said. “It …